Bush Pushing Out U.S. Generals in Iraq

Posted on Jan 4, 2007

According to ABC News, the president intends to replace Gen. Bob Casey, who currently oversees the Iraq war, with Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, and when Gen. John Abizaid retires in March, Bush will ask Adm. William Fallon to take over Central Command. Leave it to Bush to find someone from the Navy to oversee two ground wars.

ABC News:

Officials tell ABC News a wild card naval aviator, Adm. William Fallon, has been asked to take over Iraq’s Central Command and replace Gen. John Abizaid when he retires in March. The official announcement is expected on Monday.

Fallon currently heads Pacific Command, overseeing U.S. military forces in the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. The new job would have him taking charge of operations in Afghanistan. While it is highly unusual that a Navy admiral would be called upon to run essentially two ground operations, Bush wants fresh eyes on the situation.

The president is also expected to replace the overall commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey. Officials say Casey’s replacement is expected to be Lt. Gen. David Petraeus who has completed two tours in Iraq—one as a division commander during the invasion and another heading the training of Iraq security forces. He completed that job in 2005.